1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning. 2 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 2: tip is to let go of meeting fomo. Don't consign 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 2: yourself to attending more meetings than you need to because 5 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: of fear. 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: Of missing out. Today's tip comes from an article in 7 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: the Harvard Business Review, the Psychology of Meeting Overload. In 8 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: the article, authors Ashley Willins, Dave Feldman, and Damien Wisnowski 9 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: explore reasons people plan and attend more meetings than they 10 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: have to, even though people see meetings as in the 11 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: author's words, the number one office productivity killer. One of 12 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: those reasons for attending meetings meeting FOMO the fear of 13 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: missing out. I'm guessing that part of you is saying 14 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: a lot of meetings are pointless, or at least pointless 15 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: for some of the people there. Why would anyone fear 16 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: missing out on them? And I'm guessing that maybe another 17 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: part of you is admitting that you have sometimes gone 18 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: to meetings you don't absolutely have to because it stresses 19 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: you out to imagine these meetings happening without you in them. 20 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: It may be irrational, but it is real. According to 21 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: the article, people are afraid they will be judged negatively 22 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: if they don't attend meetings, or that their absence won't 23 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: be noticed at all. When we equate presence with productivity. 24 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: As the authors put it, people hesitate to decline a 25 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: meeting for fear people will see them as unproductive and unimportant. 26 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: This is ironic, of course, since attending a meeting that 27 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: doesn't really require your presence is a great way to 28 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: waste an hour, not exactly the definition of being productive. 29 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: So what do we do if we know that a 30 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: lot of meetings aren't a great use of time for 31 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: us personally, but we are afraid of how people will 32 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: judge us or forget about us if we don't attend. 33 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: The authors suggest that people who decline meeting invitations provide 34 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: their insights before the meeting. I think this is great advice. 35 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: If you are invited to a meeting that you don't 36 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: actually need to attend, or that a schedule conflict prevents 37 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: you from attending, send your contributions in advance. Review the 38 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: agenda and think through any knowledge or information or questions 39 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: that could benefit the team. Send clear notes to the 40 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: meeting organizers or to the whole team. If that's how 41 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: your office works and the list of attendees is small, 42 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 1: it could be helpful to group your notes by agenda 43 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: item so that the meeting leader can glance at your 44 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 1: notes during the relevant section of the meeting. Even though 45 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: you are not present, you are participating. That sounds like 46 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: a win to me. The authors also have suggestions for 47 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: meeting organizers. Avoid inviting people to meetings simply because you 48 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: are concerned that they would be hurt if they weren't invited. 49 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: It's not a kid's birthday party. Instead, you can avoid 50 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: any hurt feelings by reaching out to them beforehand to 51 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: get their insights. Through a quick phone call or email 52 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: exchange or hallway conversation, they can contribute their insights to 53 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: the meeting without sinking an hour into attending it. Don't 54 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: let meeting fomo lead you to spend all your time 55 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: in meetings or to invite people whose presence isn't needed 56 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: for the particular meetings you plan. Instead, look for additional 57 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: ways to weigh in on important topics and leave space 58 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: available for activities that are a better use of your hours. 59 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura, Thanks for listening, and 60 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 61 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 62 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 63 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. 64 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: That's b E the number four then Breakfast pod. You 65 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast 66 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 1: at iHeartMedia dot com that Before Breakfast is spelled out 67 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: with all the letters. Thanks so much, sh I look 68 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a production 69 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 70 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Hmm.